Legislation to Provide Notice to Workers of their Rights under State and Federal Law Moves Forward
SB 294 also known as “The Workplace Know Your Rights Act” would ensure critical information is provided to empower workers to protect themselves.
(SACRAMENTO) — Senator Eloise Gómez Reyes (D-Colton) today announced that legislation to empower California workers with critical information about their state and federal rights, passed out of its first policy committee yesterday. The proposal would provide notice to workers when they are hired and then annually of their rights regarding health and safety, wages, inspections by immigration agencies, and law enforcement interactions in the workplace. The “Workplace Know Your Rights Act” was also recently selected as a 2025 priority for the California Latino Legislative Caucus.
“It is a moral imperative that California stand up for workers and provide a critical safeguard for immigrants,” said Senator Reyes. “The wave of executive orders being issued by the federal administration aim to weaken civil and labor protections through confusion and chaos for workers and employers alike. California must step in and defend our worker and immigrant communities from the dangers of deportation and the violation of their due processes at work.”
Reyes continued, “I’m pleased with the support this bill has received to date, and look forward to continued conversations about this timely and critical issue.”
“Too often, workers experience abuses like wage theft and misclassification without knowing there are laws to protect them,” said Lorena Gonzalez, President of the California Federation of Labor Unions, AFL-CIO. “SB 294 ensures that all workers in California are empowered with the knowledge of their rights to a fair wage, a safe workplace, and their right to join a union.”
“California has made it clear that all workers, including immigrant workers, have rights and must be treated fairly. In an era when the federal government is eviscerating the agencies that protect all workers and is aggressively targeting immigrant workers, it is critical that every California worker as well as their employers be informed of their rights under state law. SB 294 will help create that baseline.” said David Huerta, President of SEIU California and SEIU-USWW, co-sponsors of SB 294.”
"In times of great uncertainty, attacks, and misinformation, staying informed and vigilant is more important than ever. That’s why we’re proud to co-sponsor Senate Bill 294, which will help educate California workers—including immigrant workers who hold various statuses such as TPS and DACA, individuals with other statuses and employers which are in constant threat under this federal administration —about their civil and labor rights under state and federal laws." - Martha Arevalo, Executive Director of Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) - California
SB 294 passed out of the Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee 4 to 1 on April 23, and is scheduled to be heard and voted on in the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 29. For more information regarding the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on SB 294, please visit: https://sjud.senate.ca.gov/committeehome.
###
Senator Eloise Gómez Reyes represents Senate District 29, Colton, Fontana, Highland, Loma Linda, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Rialto, San Bernardino, Upland, Grand Terrace, Loma Linda, and the unincorporated communities of Bloomington and Muscoy.